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Background: Regular exercise is a known primary and secondary defense against cardiovascular disease. Additionally, the American Heart Association has shown that regular exercisers have a decreased physiological response to stress, exhibit less anxiety and depression, and have better self-esteem. Objective: To examine the pre-operative risk factors and post-operative course of recovery for regular exercisers in cardiac surgery patients. Methods: A review was done of patient generated history forms and medical data for 281 patients that underwent isolated CABG at our institution since 2007. Only 166 patients had complete history forms: 98 patients were determined to be regular exercisers prior to CABG surgery, compared to 68 non-exercisers. A subset of patients (64 exercisers and 44 non-exercisers) also completed the SF-12 to measure health related quality of life (HRQL) at baseline and 12 months post-operatively. Results: Analyses found that the regular exercisers presented with better pre-operative risk factors than the sedentary patients, including lower BMI (t=2.6, p Conclusion: The importance and overall cost-benefit of regular physical activity can not be overemphasized. Regular exercisers have been shown to be at reduced risk for an adverse cardiac event. For those that must undergo cardiac surgery, the physically active present with reduced pre-operative risk and superior physical HRQL. Regular exercisers also experience greater post-operative improvements in mental HRQL as compared to their sedentary peers.

Objective Recent reports from Europe and the United States have suggested that patients presenting for open surgery with a significant history of atrial fibrillation (AF) have inferior early and late outcomes if AF is left untreated. On the other hand, there is reluctance among surgeons to treat AF surgically, especially when atriotomies may be required otherwise, which is the case with aortic valve replacement (AVR) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The objective of this study was to explore the potential impact of the addition of the Cox Maze III procedure on short- and long-term outcomes of patients when combined with AVR or CABG. Methods Since 2005, 485 patients have undergone the Cox Maze III procedure at Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, 95 of whom had a full Cox Maze III with an AVR or CABG (Cox Maze III/AVR = 30; Cox Maze III/CABG = 47; Cox Maze III/AVR/CABG = 18). In addition, 4255 patients with no history of AF underwent AVR or CABG without surgical ablation (AVR = 422; CABG = 3518; AVR/CABG = 315). Data from our CABG, valve, and AF registries were used for analyses. Patients with and without the Cox Maze III were propensity score matched using a 0.10 caliper to improve balance on clinical and demographic variables. Differences in perioperative and postoperative outcomes by group were evaluated using the Fisher exact test, and a Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was completed. Health-related quality of life (Short Form 12) was obtained at baseline and 6 months post-surgery (n = 72). Results All 95 patients who underwent the Cox Maze III were propensity score matched with patients who did not undergo the Cox Maze III. Mean age ( t = 0.3, P = . 79) and European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score ( t = − 1.8, P = . 07) were similar between the groups. There were no significant differences in major postoperative morbidities between the groups despite the Cox Maze III group being on bypass longer (164.4 vs 108.8 minutes; t = −9.8, P 001). Pacemaker implantation was significantly higher in the Cox Maze III group ( P = . 03). Survival during follow-up (mean = 35 months) was not different between patients who did and did not undergo the Cox Maze III procedure (log rank = 0.49, P = . 48). Improvement in physical health-related quality of life was similar for both groups ( F = 0.01, P = . 94). At 1 year, 94% of the patients (60/64) who underwent the Cox Maze III procedure were in sinus rhythm (81% off class I and III antiarrhythmic drugs). Conclusions The addition of the Cox Maze III procedure to AVR or CABG did not convey an increase in major morbidity and perioperative risk. Patients who underwent the Cox Maze III procedure demonstrated similar survival over time with improvement in health-related quality of life. The Cox Maze III should not be denied to patients in whom the cardiac surgical procedure does not include atriotomies because of the perceived increased operative risk. The Cox Maze III may significantly improve their outcome.

Accelerated coronary artery disease is a major cause of late morbidity and mortality among heart-transplant recipients. Because calcium-channel blockers can suppress diet-induced atherosclerosis in laboratory animals, we assessed the efficacy of diltiazem in preventing coronary artery disease in transplanted hearts.Consecutive eligible cardiac-transplant recipients were randomly assigned to receive diltiazem (n = 52) or no calcium-channel blocker (n = 54). Coronary angiograms obtained early after cardiac transplantation and annually thereafter were used for the visual assessment of the extent of coronary artery disease. The average diameters of identical coronary artery segments were measured on the angiograms obtained at base line and at the first and second follow-up examinations.In the 57 patients who had all three angiograms, the average coronary artery diameter (+/- SD) 0.27 decreased in the group that received no calcium-channel blocker from 2.41 +/- 0.27 mm at base line to 2.19 +/- 0.28 mm at one year, and to 2.22 +/- 0.26 mm at two years (P0.001 for both years). The average diameter in the diltiazem group changed little from the base-line value of 2.32 +/- 0.22 mm (2.32 +/- 0.27 mm at one year and 2.36 +/- 0.22 mm at two years). The average change in the diameter of the segment differed significantly between the two treatment groups (P0.001), and the estimated effect of treatment changed only negligibly after adjustment for other relevant clinical variables. New angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease developed in 14 patients not given calcium-channel blockers, as compared with 5 diltiazem-treated patients (P = 0.082). Coronary stenoses greater than 50 percent of the luminal diameter developed in seven patients not given calcium-channel blockers, as compared with two patients given diltiazem; death due to coronary artery disease or retransplantation occurred in five patients in the group that did not receive calcium-channel blockers and none of those who received diltiazem.Our preliminary results suggest that diltiazem can prevent the usual reduction in the diameter of the coronary artery in cardiac-transplant recipients, but further follow-up will be required to determine whether diltiazem can decrease the long-term incidence of symptomatic coronary artery disease.

The ability of the heart to respond to the demands of exercise through an increase in output is a complex physiologic process that involves intrinsic properties of heart muscle as well as the regul...

The number of patients who are potentially eligible for heart transplantation is increasing steadily in the face of a plateaued or stable donor supply. Therefore, development of fair, sensible, and consistently and widely applied criteria for transplant recipient selection is a crucial medical and societal issue. This article examines the evolution of these criteria and advocates a flexible approach to their continued evolution.

Although not a definitive treatment, percutaneous coronary intervention offers a palliative benefit to patients with cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Given the superior outcomes with drug-eluting stents (DESs) over bare metal stents (BMSs) in native coronary artery disease, similar improvements might be expected in transplant patients; however, the results have been mixed. Consecutive cardiac transplantation recipients at a single center receiving a stent for de novo cardiac allograft vasculopathy from 1997 to 2009 were retrospectively analyzed according to receipt of a DES versus a BMS. The angiographic and clinical outcomes were subsequently evaluated at 1 year. The baseline clinical and procedural characteristics were similar among those receiving DESs (n = 18) and BMSs (n = 16). Quantitative coronary angiography revealed no difference in the reference diameter, lesion length, or pre-/postprocedural minimal luminal diameter. At the 12-month angiographic follow-up visit, the mean lumen loss was significantly lower in the DES group than in the BMS group (0.19 ± 0.73 mm vs 0.76 ± 0.97 mm, p = 0.02). The DES group also had a lower rate of in-stent restenosis (12.5% vs 33%, p = 0.18), as well as a significantly lower rate of target lesion revascularization (0% vs 19%, p = 0.03). At 1 year, DESs were associated with a lower composite rate of cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (12% vs 38%, p = 0.04). In conclusion, DESs are safe and effective in the suppression of neointimal hyperplasia after percutaneous coronary intervention for cardiac allograft vasculopathy, resulting in significantly lower rates of late lumen loss and target lesion revascularization, as well as a reduced combined rate of cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction.

Background Surgical ablation may be performed on symptomatic patients who failed catheter ablation. We investigated the outcomes of patients who presented for Cox Maze III/IV procedure (CM III/IV) after failing at least one left-sided ablation. Methods Forty patients were identified as having had at least one left-sided ablation (mean 2.3 ablations per patient). Rhythm was verified using electrocardiograms and 24-hour Holter monitoring. Health-related Quality of life (HRQL) (SF-12) and the Symptom Frequency and Severity Checklist were collected before surgery and postoperatively. Results The majority of patients (N = 38) presented with long standing persistent atrial fibrillation (mean, 50.16 months). There was 1 operative death, 1 noncardiac death in late follow-up (mean, 25.5 months), and no embolic strokes. The return to sinus rhythm off class I/III antiarrhythmic drugs at 6, 12, and 24 months was 76% (29/38), 89% (23/26), 93% (13/14), respectively: 7 patients required cardioversion; 4 patients required another ablation. For every additional ablation before surgery, there was almost 4 times greater odds of receiving a follow-up intervention (OR = 3.58, p = 0.02, CI: 1.21–10.56). Exit block was tested on 96 previously ablated pulmonary veins and 91 (95%) were found to conduct. HRQL and symptom/severity scores improved significantly postoperatively ( p = 0.02)/( p = 0.03), respectively. Conclusions Surgical ablation following failed catheter ablation is safe and effective. Over 90% of the tested pulmonary veins were not isolated at time of surgery questioning the validity of documented acute conduction block during catheter ablation. Increase in the number of ablations before the surgical ablation may be related to inferior outcomes.

Surgical ablation procedures that use the Cox-Maze procedure lesion set were shown to be very effective. However, many surgeons are reluctant to perform the procedure, especially in high-risk patients such as those with reduced left ventricular (LV) function. This study explored the potential impact of the Cox-Maze III/IV procedure on patients with low ejection fraction (EF40%) and symptoms of heart failure experiencing atrial fibrillation (AF) who present for cardiac surgery.A prospective study whereby patients with persistent or long-standing persistent AF who had surgical ablation were followed. Echocardiograms (echo) were obtained; patients with preoperative EF40% were included. Health-related quality of life (HRQL-SF-12) and AF symptom severity were obtained at baseline and follow-up. Rhythm was captured by electrocardiogram (EKG) and 24-h Holter.In the past 5 years, 482 patients had surgical ablation (424 full Cox-Maze) of whom 44 patients met the inclusion criteria; however, two patients did not have an available follow-up echo, leaving 42 patients for analysis. Mean age was 61.1 ± 12.9 years, and additive European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) of 7.5 ± 3.1. There was one operative death, there were no strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) at follow-up, and EF improved from 30 ± 5.0% to 45 ± 13.0% at a mean of 1.5 ± 11.3 months, postoperatively. The return to NSR at time of follow-up echo was 86% (35/40). The physical functioning HRQL scores improved (37.0 ± 12.3 to 46.8 ± 9.1, p = 0.02) at 12 months (population norm = 38.1 ± 9.9) with a significant improvement in symptom severity. Kaplan-Meier event-free survival at 24 months was 87% (confidence interval (CI): 80.4-91.6) (events considered were redo valve replacement, ventricular assist device or death).This is a unique study assessing a high-risk group of patients. Surgical ablation in patients with low EF can be performed in a safe and effective way without added operative risk. Given the potential long-term clinical advantages of a successful surgical ablation in patients with low EF and heart failure, we believe that surgical ablation should be considered in such patients when they present to surgery.

Frequently, intensive care nurses assume responsibility for extubating patients after undergoing cardiac surgery. Bispectral index (BIS) monitoring assesses level of mental arousal and awareness when sedated. This study was to determine if the BIS might facilitate earlier extubation of patients following cardiac surgery. A study was conducted comparing 25 stable patients returning to the intensive care unit with a BIS with 25 patients managed without the BIS (N = 50). Data collected included age, sex, surgery, pH, CO2, and temperature on arrival/extubation, total intravenous propofol and pain medication, and BIS scores. Student t tests determined that there were no differences between groups for age, amount of propofol and pain medication received, or time to extubation (P > .05). Regression analysis determined that total propofol, total hydromorphone, and age were significant predictors of time to extubation. In this study, the BIS monitor did not facilitate earlier extubation in the stable patient after cardiac surgery.

Managing anticoagulation after surgical ablation is challenging, especially when sinus rhythm has been restored and the left atrial appendage has been surgically managed. The study purpose was to examine the applicability of the CHADS(2) in determining anticoagulation strategies after surgical ablation. CHADS(2) is a scoring system (0 to 6) used to indicate a patient's risk for a thromboembolic stroke and used for anticoagulation strategies. One point is given for any of the following conditions: C, congestive heart failure; H, hypertension; A, age 75 years old or greater; D, diabetes mellitus; and S, stroke which receives 2 points. A score of 2 or greater is an indication for a patient to be placed on warfarin unless otherwise contraindicated.A prospective, longitudinally designed study where CHADS(2) was calculated for all patients (n = 385). Clinical data on rhythm, anticoagulation medication, bleeding, and embolic stroke-transient ischemic attack (TIA) was obtained every 3 months. Logistic regression models were used to determine significant predictors of either event.Of the 385 patients, 17% presented with a history of stroke-TIA. In a mean follow-up of 32.77 ± 16.33 months, embolic stroke-TIA events occurred in 4 patients (4.2 first events per 1,000 patient years) and bleeding events occurred in 69 patients (72.8 first events per 1,000 patient years). There was no significant difference in mean CHADS(2) between the stroke event and nonevent group (0.75 vs 1.46, respectively; p = 0.21), but there was a significant difference in CHADS(2) between the major bleed event group and the nonevent group (2.31 vs 1.41, respectively; p0.003). The logistic regression model was not predictive of stroke-TIA, but was significantly predictive of bleeding events (χ(2) = 10.30, p0.02).The number of thromboembolic events after surgical ablation procedure is low and appears unrelated to the CHADS(2). This, together with the higher rate of bleeding, raises questions regarding the applicability of the CHADS(2) for patients after surgical ablation. A randomized study is required to define the risks and anticoagulation strategies for patients after surgical ablation.

Study objective: Heart and heart/lung transplants are accepted forms of therapy for patients with end-stage cardiac or pulmonary disease. These patients are likely to present postoperatively to the emergency department. To our knowledge, there have been no previous reports in the medical literature of the ED presentation of these patients. Design: We conducted a retrospective review of the records of all patients who had received a heart or a heart/lung transplant at Stanford University Medical Center from 1988 through 1990 and who had at least one ED visit. Measurements and results: Between the time of operation and April 1, 1991, 131 ED visits were recorded. Fever was the single most common presenting complaint, for 48 (37%) of the visits. Difficulty in breathing (13%); gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (10%); and chest pain (9%) were other common reasons for presentation. Conclusion: The transplant patient, by virtue of requiring chronic immunosuppression, is susceptible to infection with a spectrum of opportunistic organisms. When fever or other symptoms suggest infection, appropriate cultures and aggressive diagnostic procedures (eg, lumbar puncture, bronchoscopy) should be performed.

Objective Surgical ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation is now being performed routinely in centers throughout the world. After the hospital stay, patients' care is usually delivered by cardiologists who are often unfamiliar with the nuances of the procedure, as well as the management of patients' medical regimens and atrial arrhythmia recurrence. We sought to determine the effectiveness of a postdischarge protocol designed not only to capture patients' rhythm status but also to coordinate their clinical management when required for all patients undergoing surgical ablation in our institution. Methods A unique, computer-based atrial fibrillation registry was developed to comply with the Heart Rhythm Society guidelines. An extensive follow-up program to track patients' preoperative characteristics and operative and postoperative courses was established. The required long-term clinical follow-up and interventions were based on a simple clinical algorithm-driven protocol that was developed and recommended by us to be used. All available patients were followed at each respective time point and were evaluated for protocol implementation as determined by the algorithm. Stepwise logistic regression was used to determine whether being on the protocol was a significant predictor for being in sinus rhythm at 18 and 24 months. Results At the time of the study, we had 391 patients (multiple surgeons) in our registry with more than 2000 clinical records and follow-up rhythm status information. Overall, the return to sinus rhythm was 88%, 87%, and 84% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Significantly higher rates of sinus rhythm were documented for patients whose care was managed according to the algorithm, with a return to sinus rhythm rate of 92% versus 72%, 91% versus 62%, and 89% versus 40% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Fifty-one percent of the patients in atrial fibrillation at 12 months did not receive treatment as indicated by the algorithm, with the most common deviations being a change in antiarrhythmic drug treatment, any attempt of cardioversion, and premature placement of patients on a rate-control regimen. The odds of being in sinus rhythm at 24 months was significantly increased when a patient's care was managed according to the protocol (on protocol: odds ratio, 8.066; 95% confidence interval, 1.085–59.940; P = .041). Conclusion This study describes a new concept in which a clinical algorithm is being used to manage patients after surgical ablation. Our findings suggest that the success rate of the surgical ablation procedure was significantly better in patients who were followed and treated according to the clinical algorithm. These findings suggest that coordination of patients' treatment with cardiologists is challenging but essential to enhance the long-term success rate of the surgical ablation procedure.

Mariell Jessup, MD, FACC, FAHA, Chair [*][1] William T. Abraham, MD, FACC, FAHA[†][2] Donald E. Casey, MD, MPH, MBA[‡][3] Arthur M. Feldman, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA[§][4] Gary S. Francis, MD, FACC, FAHA[§][4] Theodore G. Ganiats, MD[∥][5] Marvin A. Konstam, MD, FACC[¶][6] Donna M.

ObjectivesChronic lung disease is a significant comorbidity in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Chronic lung disease is currently being classified and reported to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database by using either clinical interview or spirometric testing. We sought to compare the chronic lung disease classification captured by the 2 methods.MethodsWe performed a prospectively designed study in which patients presenting for cardiac surgery, excluding emergent patients, were screened for a history of asthma, a history of 10 or more pack-years of smoking, a persistent cough, and the use of oxygen. Each selected patient underwent spirometry. The presence and severity of chronic lung disease was coded per Society of Thoracic Surgeons guidelines by using the 2 methods of clinical report and spirometric results. The chronic lung disease classifications were compared, and differences were determined by using concordance and discordance rates. The results were then used to construct Society of Thoracic Surgeons–predicted risk models.ResultsThe discordant rate was 39.1%, with underestimation of the severity of chronic lung disease in 94% of misclassified patients. This affected the Society of Thoracic Surgeons–predicted risk models for prolonged ventilation, morbidity/mortality, and mortality by increasing the predicted risk when spirometry was used for morbidity/mortality by an average of 1.5 ± 1.2 percentage points (P < .001) and prolonged ventilation time by an average of 1.3 ± 1.4 percentage points (P < .001).ConclusionThe use of patient history for symptoms, medication, and/or oxygen use as the only method to determine chronic lung disease for this subgroup of patients led to underreporting of chronic lung disease and underestimation of the risk for adverse outcomes. Therefore data submission to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database should be designed to capture and correct for potential bias in the definition of chronic lung disease because the rate of spirometry in different centers in defining chronic lung disease is not regulated.

Nutrient intakes of 2893 rural free-living elderly persons aged 65 and older residing in 11 southern states were studied. Data being reported herein include food intake by a 24-hr recall, meal preparation settings and use of dietary supplements and socioeconomic variables. High percentages of monthly income were spent on food, particularly among black females and participation rates in community service programs, including senior centers and home delivered meals, were low. Caloric intakes by rural males were 1603 and 1365 kcal, respectively, for whites and blacks; 1270 and 1259 kcal for white and black females, respectively. Means for most of the nutrients equalled or exceeded the RDAs for this age group except energy and calcium. Age had little influence on nutrient intake. Race showed as a significant determinant on the nutrient intake index computed from 11 key nutrient intakes; however, the significant effect of race disappeared when either income or educational level was used as covariate. Thus, the disparities in intakes between the black and white elders were due partly to income rather than race. Of these rural elders, 46.5% consumed meals alone. Eating alone per se did not have a significant impact on nutrient consumption, but 35.2% of those eating alone indicated that they ate less, had fewer choices or ate more. Dietary supplements were used by 33.9% of rural elders, and their intakes of several nutrients were higher than by nonusers. More effort by community services to reach rural elders is needed, particularly those in the low socioeconomic spectrum.

Over 12,000 cardiac transplants have been performed worldwide and many recipients are alive between 10 and 20 years posttransplant. The results, complications, and pathology of the long-term survivors are discussed in this chapter.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) has been shown to be a significant cause of death after heart transplantation. QT dispersion (QTd) is associated with SCD in several high-risk populations. We hypothesized that QTd would predict mortality and SCD in heart transplantation patients. METHODS: We examined the clinical charts and most recent electrocardiograms (ECGs) for patients who received heart transplants at Stanford University Medical Center during the period 1981-1995. QTd was measured with all 12 leads and the precordial leads. Analysis was performed by a single reader blinded to patient outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 346 patients who had undergone transplantation had available ECGs and known outcomes; 155 of these patients died, and 42 of these deaths were attributed to SCD. The 12-lead mean QTd was not significantly different between outcome groups: patients who survived had a 12-lead mean QTd of 58 +/- 29 milliseconds and those who died had a 12-lead mean QTd of 61 +/- 32 milliseconds (P = .57). Patients who died from SCD had a 12-lead mean QTd of 57 +/- 31 milliseconds (P = .40), and those who died of other causes had a 12-lead mean QTd of 59 +/- 34 milliseconds (P = .36 vs those who died of SCD). Similarly, the precordial-lead mean QTd did not differ significantly between the different outcome groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found no correlation between QTd and SCD or mortality in heart transplant recipients. Until additional studies prove a positive association, QTd should not be used as a prognostic marker in these patients.

Eight hundred thirty-six patients who had open-heart surgery were available for analysis of health-related quality of life (HRQL) data and survival at the 1-year follow-up. Elective open-heart surgery patients with decreasing HRQL at 1 year following surgery may experience a survival disadvantage in comparison with those patients experiencing positive gains. Clinical care should extend beyond the immediate postoperative period.

Human heart transplantation started 40 years ago. Medical records of all cardiac transplants performed at Stanford were reviewed. A total of 1446 heart transplantations have been performed between January 1968 and December 2007 with an increase of 1-year survival from 43.1% to 90.2%. Sixty patients who were transplanted between 1968 and 1987 were identified who survived at least 20 years. Twenty-year survivors had a mean age at transplant of 29.4 +/- 13.6 years. Rejection-free and infection-free 1-year survivals were 14.3% and 18.8%, respectively. At their last follow-up, 86.7% of long-term survivors were treated for hypertension, 28.3% showed chronic renal dysfunction, 6.7% required hemodialysis, 10% were status postkidney transplantation, 13.3% were treated for diabetes mellitus, 36.7% had a history of malignancy and 43.3% had evidence of allograft vasculopathy. The half-life conditional on survival to 20 years was 28.1 years. Eleven patients received a second heart transplant after 11.9 +/- 8.0 years. The most common causes of death were allograft vasculopathy (56.3%) and nonlymphoid malignancy (25.0%). Twenty-year survival was achieved in 12.5% of patients transplanted before 1988. Although still associated with considerable morbidity, long-term survival is expected to occur at much higher rates in the future due to major advances in the field over the past decade.

Right ventricular (RV) function may be impaired in pulmonary hypertension (PH), congenital heart disease (CHD), and coronary artery disease and in patients with left-sided heart failure (HF) or valvular heart disease. In recent years, many studies have demonstrated the prognostic value of RV function in cardiovascular disease. In the past, however, the importance of RV function has been underestimated. This perception originated from studies on open-pericardium dog models and from the observation that patients may survive without a functional subpulmonary RV (Fontan procedure). In the 1940s, studies using open-pericardium dog models showed that cauterization of the RV lateral wall did not result in a decrease in cardiac output or an increase in systemic venous pressure.1–3 As was later demonstrated, the open-pericardium model did not take into account the complex nature of ventricular interaction. In 1982, Goldstein and colleagues2 showed that RV myocardial infarction (RVMI) in a closed-chest dog model led to significant hemodynamic compromise. These findings were further supported by clinical studies demonstrating an increased risk of death, arrhythmia, and shock in patients with RVMI.4 The study of the RV is a relatively young field. In 2006, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute identified RV physiology as a priority in cardiovascular research.5 The goal of this review is to present a clinical perspective on RV physiology and pathobiology. In the first article of the series, the anatomy, physiology, embryology, and assessment of the RV were discussed. In this second part, we discuss the pathophysiology, clinical importance, and management of RV failure. RV failure is a complex clinical syndrome that can result from any structural or functional cardiovascular disorder that impairs the ability of the RV to fill or to eject blood. The cardinal clinical manifestations of RV failure are (1) fluid retention, which may lead …

In 1616, Sir William Harvey was the first to describe the importance of right ventricular (RV) function in his seminal treatise, De Motu Cordis : “Thus the right ventricle may be said to be made for the sake of transmitting blood through the lungs, not for nourishing them.”1,2 For many years that followed, emphasis in cardiology was placed on left ventricular (LV) physiology, overshadowing the study of the RV. In the first half of the 20th century, the study of RV function was limited to a small group of investigators who were intrigued by the hypothesis that human circulation could function adequately without RV contractile function.3 Their studies, however, were based on an open pericardial dog model, which failed to take into account the complex nature of ventricular interaction. In the early 1950s through the 1970s, cardiac surgeons recognized the importance of right-sided function as they evaluated procedures to palliate right-heart hypoplasia. Since then, the importance of RV function has been recognized in heart failure, RV myocardial infarction, congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension. More recently, advances in echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging have created new opportunities for the study of RV anatomy and physiology. The goal of the present review is to offer a clinical perspective on RV structure and function. In the first part, we discuss the anatomy, physiology, aging, and assessment of the RV. In the second part, we discuss the pathophysiology, clinical importance, and management of RV failure. ### Macroscopic Anatomy of the RV In the normal heart, the RV is the most anteriorly situated cardiac chamber and lies immediately behind the sternum. In the absence of transposition of great arteries, the RV is delimited by the annulus of the tricuspid valve and by the pulmonary valve. As suggested by Goor and Lillehi,4 the RV can be described in …

2008;51;2085-2105; originally published online May 15, 2008; J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. Michael O. Sweeney L. Page, Mark H. Schoenfeld, Michael J. Silka, Lynne Warner Stevenson, and Stephen C. Hammill, David L. Hayes, Mark A. Hlatky, L. Kristin Newby, Richard Roger A. Freedman, Leonard S. Gettes, A. Marc Gillinov, Gabriel Gregoratos, Andrew E. Epstein, John P. DiMarco, Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, N.A. Mark Estes, III, Surgery and Society of Thoracic Surgeons Developed in Collaboration With the American Association for Thoracic for Implantation of Cardiac Pacemakers and Antiarrhythmia Devices) (Writing Committee to Revise the ACC/AHA/NASPE 2002 Guideline Update Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines Abnormalities: Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 Guidelines for Device-Based Therapy of Cardiac Rhythm This information is current as of June 4, 2010 http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/full/51/21/2085 located on the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is

We present cardiac and pulmonary function data obtained at serial annual reviews in 21 heart-lung transplant (HLT) recipients followed for up to four years postoperatively, reflecting the entire Stanford experience as of June 1987. A total of 50 cardiac catheterisation procedures and endomyocardial biopsies yielded the following results: rejection on biopsy (0/50) (0% of patients), angiographic coronary artery disease (1/50) (5%), pulmonary hypertension (2/50) (10%), elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (1/50) (5%), and low cardiac index (CI) (4/50) (14%). Systemic hypertension was common, with an elevated systemic vascular resistance (SVR) (26/44) (76%) and an elevated mean aortic pressure (MAP) (22/44) (67%). Pulmonary function testing frequently revealed abnormalities. Airflow limitation was manifested by a reduction in both FEV1/FVC ratio (17/50) (52%) and FEF25-75 (30/50) (71%), and was often associated with arterial hypoxaemia (13/50) (52%). Subsequently, five patients with these findings have died with obliterative bronchiolitis (OB), one underwent retransplantation for OB, six have stable OB, and one has progressive OB. Length of survival was highly correlated with the resting PaO2 at the first annual review (r = 0.99) (p less than 0.001), and, to a lesser degree, on the reduction in FEF25-75 (r = 0.73) (p less than 0.05) and FEV1/FVC ratio (r = 0.77) (p less than 0.05). Resting PaO2 was determined by ventilatory (r = 0.80) (p less than 0.001) rather than circulatory factors and all patients with airflow limitation who died had OB at post-mortem examination. These results support the continued study of HLT as a therapeutic modality for selected patients with irreversible pulmonary hypertension. They demonstrate that, in the absence of severe OB, haemodynamics, cardiac function, and coronary patency are preserved for several years after HLT. Whereas the value of regular pulmonary function testing has become evident, there does not appear to be a clinical need for annual surveillance with invasive cardiac procedures in long-term survivors of HLT.

Introduction: Aprotinin during CABG has been linked to increased rates of perioperative complications and increased long-term mortality. We report our results for the association of CABG, aprotinin use and intermediate survival. Methods: Subjects were 1,679 isolated CABG, on-pump, cases with no prior hx of renal failure or dialysis between 2001 and 2002. Aprotinin pts were additionally propensity matched to non-aprotinin pts to control for pt acuity. Increased EuroSCORE (E) indicates increased pt acuity. Results: Aprotinin pts (n=817) presented as older (63.7 vs. 61.2, p=0.05), increased E (6.5 vs. 4.1, p=0.05), and urgent operative status (61.7% vs. 41.6%, p=0.05). This group experienced greater rates of perioperative prolonged ventilation (8.7%% vs. 4.8%, p=0.01), acute renal failure (4.3% vs. 2.0%, p=0.01), 30d mortality (2.2% vs. 1.0%, p=0.06) and signif. decreased unmatched 5-year survival (86.1%, vs. 92.8%, p=0.001). Aprotinin use was not signif. assoc. with increased intermediate mortality (HR: 1.26; 95% CI: 0.66–2.41) but cases with high E (6+) were (HR: 5.47; 95% CI: 2.98–10.08). Moderate E was not signif. assoc. with mortality (HR: 1.75; 95% CI: 0.91–3.35) nor was any aprotinin-E interaction term (HR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.93–1.08). After matching, controls were signif. less at risk of mortality at 5 years, (91.3% vs. 88.1%, p=0.05; Figure 1 ). Conclusions: Our results suggest that pts with aprotinin experienced higher rates of perioperative complications; however, the pts in this group were generally at higher risk for adverse outcome. Aprotinin use may convey an increased risk of intermediate mortality, but after matching, mortality estimates are greatly reduced.

The subject of organ retransplantation has generated a great deal of debate and discussion as physicians, ethicists and health care payers as well as patients address such intrinsically conflicting principles as distributive justice and the drive to maximize individual patient survival. As is the case with other organ allografts, it is inevitable that a certain number of cardiac allograft recipients will redevelop some form of end-stage heart disease and become potential candidates for retransplantation. While there may be no strictly right or wrong answer to the question of whether heart retransplantation should ever be performed, we felt that examining the experience at a single relatively high-volume institution which has performed retransplantation over a several decade period could be instructive both in terms of assessing what the best result to be obtained might be as well as identifying subsets of retransplant candidates with predictable better outcome than others. Thus, we present a retrospective analysis of our institutions 2.9 year experience with cardiac retransplantation.

"The ACC/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines was formed to make recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with known or suspected cardiovascular disease (CVD). Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Unstable angina (UA) and the closely related condition of non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are very common manifestations of this disease. The committee members reviewed and compiled published reports through a series of computerized literature searches of the English-language literature since 2002 and a final manual search of selected articles. Details of the specific searches conducted for particular sections are provided when appropriate. Detailed evidence tables were developed whenever necessary with the specific criteria outlined in the individual sections. The recommendations made were based primarily on these published data. The weight of the evidence was ranked highest (A) to lowest (C). The final recommendations for indications for a diagnostic procedure, a particular therapy, or an intervention in patients with UA/NSTEMI summarize both clinical evidence and expert opinion."

BACKGROUND: Baby boomers, born in 1945-1965, account for 75% of all HCV infections in the U.S. This cohort will become the majority of treatment candidates for the coming decades. Available IFNand RBV-free regimens can improve PROs during and after treatment in patients with CH-C. Whether similar PRO improvements could be observed in older CHC patients is unknown. AIM: To assess the impact of RBV-free vs. RBV-containing SOFbased regimens on PROs of CH-C patients of 65 years of age or older. METHODS: The PRO data from eight multicenter multinational phase 3 clinical trials of sofosbuvir (SOF)based regimens with and without ledipasvir (LDV) or RBV (POSITRON, FISSION, FUSION, VALENCE, PHOTON-1, ION-1, ION-2, and ION-3) were used. While blinded to their HCV RNA results, patients completed 4 validated PRO questionnaires [Short Form-36 (SF-36), Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-HCV (CLDQ-HCV), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), and Work Productivity and Activity Index: Specific Health Problem (WPAI:SHP)] which were administered at baseline, during treatment, and post-treatment. RESULTS: A total of 3,016 CH-C patients were treated with interferon-free SOF-containing regimens. Of these, 217 patients were older than 65 years (68.0±3.2 years old, 58% male, 73% treatment-naive, 21% cirrhotic). Of the 65+ cohort, 90 received SOF/ LDV (100% genotype 1, SVR-12: 96.7%), 62 received SOF/LDV+RBV (100% genotype 1, SVR-12: 96.8%), and 65 received SOF+RBV (100% genotype 2/3, SVR-12: 83.1%). In comparison to younger than 65, the 65+ CH-C cohort had some pre-treatment PRO impairments in physical functioning-related items (up to -3.2% of maximum of 100%, p